Making My Way to NCA in a Multimedia World

It's almost here. As I pack my bags for the 2008 NCA convention, a mix of questions come to mind, and only this weekend will bring the answers. How long is this plane ride going to be afterall? Will my luggage be underweight? Will I get a window seat? But most importantly, just how much will I be able to take in and remember after one eventful weekend of learning?

I decided to page through the abstracts of papers being presented and circle the ones I want to see. However, once I realized that I was circling almost every paper, I had to stop myself and reflect. Never before have I had the opportunity to be completely immersed in the field of communication, surrounded by scholars that I will not only get to learn from, but also cover as a member of the press this weekend.

I am beyond excited to be a part of the very first NCA Press team, and also fascinated by the capabilities we now have as a multimedia society. I can carry a video camera in the palm of my hand. I can fit an audio recorder in my pocket. I can write, record and post within minutes to a website that an entire convention of people can read. The power and the possibilities are endless, and I anxiously await the opportunity ahead.